Wyoming may not have a huge population, but the people that do live here enjoy really good beer. It's the perfect end to a day spent skiing, hiking, horseback riding, or any of the other iconically Wyoming activities we indulge in to pass the time.
Fortunately, the Cowboy State is home to some of the finest breweries in the country. If you're looking for the top one in Wyoming, search no more. There's a not-so-little brewery hiding in the tiny mountain town of Alpine, and it was named the very best in the state.
Over on the west side of the state, near the Wyoming/Idaho border and just at the edge of the Bridger-Teton National Forest sits the little village of Alpine. It's there you'll find the best brewery in the state.
Though Melvin Brewing got its start in a Thai restaurant in Jackson, it's now here, in Alpine, where the magic happens.
Melvin Brewing is located at 624 County Road 101 in Alpine. It's open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 11 p.m.
The huge warehouse provides much-needed space for their 30 barrel system that includes centrifuges, massive tanks...
...and bottling and canning equipment that couldn't be crammed into the back room of a "normal" restaurant.
One visit to Melvin and you realize there's nothing normal about the brewery, the beer, or the team that makes it. Their two obsessions are great beer and everything Kung Fu. They truly love what they do, and have made having fun on the job a requirement for working at Melvin.
The Melvins' passion for brewing has paid off time and again. Their beer has won awards in the most prestigious competitions including the World Beer Cup.
Fortunately, there's enough room in the massive metal building for a pub, where beer enthusiasts can enjoy a fresh, cold beer. There are usually eight beers on tap, a mix of the reliable anchor IPAs and a few interesting seasonals the brew masters enjoy experimenting with.
In fact, Melvin Brewing has started a rotational IPA program. Dubbed "RIIPA" (Rotational Imperial IPA) series, it allows them to brew up small batches every 2 months to keep things interesting.
In addition to the Melvin signature IPA, the Hubert MPA (Melvin pale ale), and the 2X4 Double IPA, the Melvin brew masters put out a refreshing Mexican-style lager and an addictive American blonde ale they call Killer Bees.
Like Wyoming, the pub is a wide open space. It's comfortable, though, the perfect place to kick back, enjoy what's on tap, and talk brewing and Bruce Lee with one of the Melvins...
...and you can even get a delicious bite to eat. Naturally, the food at Melvin Brewing is pub food, but the loaded fries, pot stickers, and shredded chicken tacos are all seriously crave-worthy.
And, of course, you can get some Melvin to go while you're here.
It's a fun brewery to visit in a gorgeous part of the state, and the beer is some of the best you'll ever taste. What's not to love?
Have you had a Melvin? Which one is your favorite?
It's no small feat that Melvin Brewing took top honors as the best brewery in the Cowboy State. In fact, we highlighted 17 Awesome Home-State Breweries That Prove Wyoming Is The Country's Beer Capital.
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